Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 44

By now, the smell of goat droppings had completely vanished from the kitchen. In its place was the savory aroma of roasted fish. Yu Jiao turned to Madam Song by the stove and said, “Aunt Song, could you please fetch the medicine grinder for me?”

Madam Song extinguished the fire in the stove, got up, and returned with the grinder from the east room. “You’re planning to use this externally, are you?”

Yu Jiao nodded. “Yes, it’s for external use.” She placed the roasted crucian carp into the grinder and carefully ground it into a fine powder using the pestle.

Wang Mengyan looked on with curiosity. Although she had married into the Yu family for several years now, she knew nothing about medicine or treatments. 

The old master had never used anything this strange or unconventional before. “Can something so filthy really treat illness?” she asked.

Yu Jiao chuckled softly. “It can.”

Meanwhile, back in the west wing, Mu Yan was growing increasingly impatient as Yu Jiao didn’t return. Yu Ruhai stepped out to find her, urging, “Why did you leave the patient and run off to the kitchen? Master Mu has been waiting anxiously. If more medicine is needed, at least tell us clearly.”

Yu Jiao stood, holding the grinder, and began walking back to the main hall. “I’m going to apply the medicine now. While I do that, please prepare two batches of pills, Forsythia Detox Pills and Water Buffalo Horn Detox Pills, twenty each.”

Yu Ruhai, of course, agreed, he could hardly say no, but in truth, he had no idea how to make either of those formulas. Somewhat sheepishly, he asked in a low voice, “How exactly are these pills made?”

Yu Jiao was already well aware of Yu Ruhai’s mediocre medical skills. Still, she didn’t show the slightest hint of disdain. She patiently recited the prescriptions for both pills, and Yu Ruhai made an effort to remember them carefully.

The two returned to the west wing. Mu Yan was sitting on a stool, his brow furrowed with irritation.

Yu Ruhai went over to the medicine cabinet to gather ingredients for the pills. Yu Jiao, meanwhile, poured the powdered fish mixture onto a piece of paper. She picked up a fine wooden spoon and looked up at Mu Yan.

“Master Mu, I’ll need you to loosen your clothing. I’m going to apply the medicine.”

Mu Yan caught the scent of fish and looked suspiciously at the powder. “What is that stuff?”

“A highly effective remedy for your carbuncles,” Yu Jiao replied calmly and confidently.

Mu Yan snorted. “You can call it a remedy all you like. It’s only a cure if it actually works.”

Yu Jiao smiled slightly, not offended in the least. “You’re absolutely right, Master Mu.”

Her gentle response left Mu Yan with nothing more to say. He couldn’t exactly argue with a young woman without looking petty, so he slowly removed his outer robe.

“This might hurt a bit, Master Mu. Please bear with it,” Yu Jiao said as she scooped up some of the powder with the wooden spoon and applied it directly to the open sores on his back.

Mu Yan’s face turned pale with pain, and he cried out. Watching from the side, Mu Nianjiu clenched his fists, his face tense with worry.

Yu Jiao carefully packed the medicine into each carbuncle. By the time she was finished, Mu Yan’s forehead was dripping with sweat, his jaw clenched, and his cheeks puffed from holding in the pain. He didn’t have the strength left to complain.

Yu Jiao wrapped the remaining powder in a piece of paper and handed it to Mu Nianjiu. “Once the decoction has been taken, the sores on your uncle’s back should begin to swell and surface in three days. When they do, apply this powder again using the same method.”

Mu Nianjiu accepted the packet and memorized her instructions carefully. “And with this, will my uncle’s carbuncles fully heal?”

Yu Jiao nodded. Mu Nianjiu beamed with relief. Seeing his uncle still pale and weak, he handed the powder to a servant and hurried to help him get dressed.

By then, Yu Ruhai had finished making the two types of pills. Yu Jiao handed both to Mu Nianjiu. “These are the Forsythia Detox Pills and the Water Buffalo Horn Detox Pills. Take two pills of each, morning and evening, along with the decoction I prescribed earlier. You should see results in five days.”

“Thank you, Miss Meng,” Mu Nianjiu said gratefully, helping Mu Yan to his feet. “Uncle, you won’t have to suffer from those carbuncles anymore.”

Mu Yan was still feeling the aftereffects of the painful application and had no energy to speak. Though he had to admit, in his heart, that this young woman from the Yu family wasn’t just a smooth talker, she clearly had real skills. 

Still, he was too proud to express his appreciation just yet. He figured he’d wait to see if the treatment truly worked.

“Let’s go home,” he said. “I’m exhausted.”